Device for the retrieval of data

ABSTRACT

A data retrieval device, operable to retrieve a datum responsive to insertion of a datum selecting card into a data containing unit, has a drawer containing a stack of data sheets each having a different respective recess in an edge thereof. A number of selecting cards, equal to the number of sheets in the stack, are provided, and each card has a sheet releasing characteristic, such as an aperture, a projection, or recess, at a location respective to a different one of the data sheets. When a card is inserted into the unit, its releasing characteristic is engaged by a tension member in accordance with the lateral location of the characteristic, and the tension member is pulled along with the card through a distance corresponding to the spacing of the characteristic from the leading edge of the card. The tension member pulls a connected downturned hook toward the stack of sheets to engage all of the sheet edge recesses aligned with the hook, the hook being drawn to a recess corresponding to the distance of the characteristic from the leading edge of the card. When the card is fully inserted, it closes a switch to energize a motor rotating a crank which lifts all the hooks, with the drawn hook dividing the stack of sheets into two partial stacks. The lower partial stack remains in the drawer and the upper partial stack is engaged with latching pins entering holes in the sheets. Upon further rotation of the crank, a detent is released providing for a spring to project the drawer with the lower partial stack of sheets. The selected sheet is the top sheet of the lower partial stack, so that the retrieved data is exposed. When the drawer is reinserted in the unit, the two partial stacks are recombined into the original stack and another switch is operated to actuate the motor to rotate the crank in the reverse direction lowering the hooks, and releasing the detent to engage the drawer. The hooks are retracted by associated springs. In addition to, or in place of, the retrieved data being presented visually, it may be presented audibly by a tape recorder connected to the unit.

[4 1 May 23, 1972 United States Patent Krebs [s4] DEVICE FOR THE RETRIEVAL OF DATA [72] Inventor:

Klaus H. Krebs, Tesdorpstr. 20, 2 Hamlocation of the characteristic, and the tension member is pulled along with the card through a distance corresponding to the spacing of the characteristic from the leading edge of the card. The tension member pulls a connected downturned hook toward the stack of sheets to engage all of the sheet edge recesses aligned with the hook, the hook being drawn to a recess corresponding to the distance of the characteristic from the leading edge of the card. When the card is full closes a switch to energize a motor rotatin NWO Hm v. mm9. m ""0 0 mml c m u n u m m m m u m h b & n n N a 0 "Hum N L T- m d e 0' n P n y inserted, it Reference Cmd g a crank which lifts all the hooks, with the drawn hook dividing the stack of sheets UNITED STATES PATENTS l/ l 971 7/ l 971 3/ l 933 into two partial stacks. The lower partial stack remains in the drawer and the upper partial stack is engaged with latching pins entering holes in the sheets. Upon further rotation of the crank, a detent is released providing for a spring to project the drawer with the lower partial stack of sheets. The selected sheet is the top sheet of the lower partial stack, so that the retrieved data is exposed. When the drawer is reinserted in the unit, the two partial stacks are recombined into the ori 3,553,853 Weinstein et al. 3,593,431 Candido...................... l,902,97l Rippon 3,520,405 7/1970 ginal or to Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorney-McGlew and Toren stack and another switch is operated to actuate the mot rotate the crank in the reverse direction lowerin g the hooks, and releasing the detent to engage the drawer. The hooks are retracted by associated springs. in addition to, or in place of, the retrieved data being presented visually, it may be presented audibly by a tape recorder connected to the unit.

having a different respective recess in an edge thereof. A number of selecting cards, equal to the number of sheets in the 22 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUM Y2 I972 3.664.500

Klaus H. Kre s PATENTEDMM 23 I972 3. 664, 500

IIVI/E/VTOR Klous H. Krebs ATTORNEYS PATENTEUMAY 23 m2 SHEET 3 OF 5 1 a; a, a)

FIG.6

INVENTO/P Klaus H. Krebs ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR THE RETRIEVAL OF DATA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION as on The storage of data on punch cards has long been known and makes possible, with the use of suitable known machines, reproduction of the stored datum or data as visual information. in addition to punch cards used for such purposes, perforated tapes may also be used, such as an automatic typewriters or teletype machines. The operation of such devices is based on the scanning of individual holes or groups of holes which are used as pulse generators. While the invention makes use of a punch card, its operation differs considerably from that of the usual punch cards, which find application essentially in central departments of certain firms.

Thus, many consultations and sales talks are presently conducted at the home of the interested'party, such as talks about insurance, capital investments, cars, private homes, furnishings, etc. it is very rare that the consultant knows the individual desires of the interested party before his visit and, in no case, is heexactly aware of all of these desires. Therefore, often he cannot bring along all the necessary consulting material, and usually must limit himself to a more or less general prospectus which, moreover, is sometimes difi'lcult to understand. The result, therefore, necessarily is that the consultant talks past the customer, especially when the customer has questions which distract the consultant from his outline.

Moreover, salesmen must be thoroughly trained for their job if they are to fulfill their assignments professionally and adequately, and such training requires time and expense. Also, it is necessary to repeat the training from time to time, for example, at least whenever the firm the salesman represents brings out a new model.

Naturally, the human qualities and salesmanship of various salesmen differ, and the outcome of the sales talk depends to a 'large extent also on these factors. Moreover, the salesman does not know the desires of the customer at all before the sales talk, and first must laboriously draw out these desires more or less skillfully in order to organize his sales talk accordinglyrThis loses considerable time, in addition to which it requires the greatest skill and a good memory of the salesman to sort the various customer desires or wishes according'to their importance and to deal with them individually accordingly.

Known sales techniques thus depend largely on the individual skill of the salesman, and do not permit the firm, for which the salesman works, to find out which customer wishes are in the foreground unless the salesman takes notes in all cases, whether the sales talk has a positive outcome or a negativeoutcome, and passes these notes on to his firm in the form of a report. Such a method is, of course, practical, but it is inexpedient and error-prone from the start. Another disadvantage of the known technique is thatit is easy to forget to call attention to important properties of the productto be sold, and this possibly may have a negative effect and prevent the potential buyer from coming to a decision.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION "running along lines according to the wishes of the interested party.

Another object is the relieve the salesman with respect to his exposition and enable him to come to know the customer's desires before the start of the actual sales talk.

Finally, a further object of the-invention is to record the wishes of the clientele automatically without requiring the salesman to take notes, because only by such an automatic recording can error-free guidelines be obtained for the sales management.

To summarize, the objective of the invention is to provide a sales machine which retrieves data of any kind and where the appearance of each datum is effected responsive to the introduction of a question card.

For the solution of the problem, in accordance with the invention, the insertion of a card, provided at a certain point with at least one releasing mark, such as a hole, a projection, or a recess, into the retrieval unit, triggers at least one mechanical and/or electrical pulse. This pulse results in separation of a stack of data sheets, and divides the stack into two partial stacks of different or equallsize. One stack is supplied to a locking device and the other stack is pushed out of the unit by means of a drawer. After reinsertion of the drawer, the two partial stacks are recombined into the original uniform stack, with the arrangement being such that during these processes additional pulses are triggered by the card.

For this purpose, in accordance with the invention each individual data sheet of the stack is provided at one edge with a recess, preferably located approximately at the center of the edge, and each recess has a form different from that of the other data sheets. These cutouts or recesses have forms corresponding to a multiple of the smallest cutout in a data sheet. Also, each data sheet of the stack is provided with preferably two discontinuities which can be engaged temporarily by pins of a locking device.

The invention further provides that each card to be introduced into the unit, and which contains a respective inquiry and effects retrieval of the data sheet answering this inquiry, is formed with two holes, one of which, designed as a fixing hole, is arranged at the same point in all the cards while the other, serving as an operating hole, is located at a respective different point in each card and represents the triggering mark thereofi'The card may be provided with other additional triggering marks. As an additional triggering mark, a card may have, at its upper edge, at least one projection or one recess. As a variant, an additional triggering mark of a card may comprise a discontinuity near its lower edge.

In further accord with the invention, within a unit housing,

which is provided on one side face with a slot for the introduction of the cards, several displaceable strips are arranged, which present, near their one end, a projecting spike and, at their other end, are connected with one end of a flexible cableline, preferably the core of a Bowden line. The other end of each cable line extends to a displaceable tongue for the respective strip, each tongue being of U-shaped design, with a cable line being fastened to one leg of the Uv A compression spring is arranged between this leg and a holding strip fixed in the unit housing. A straight portion of a crankshaft extends between the legs of the U-shaped tongues, and is driven by an electric motor to a transmission and by a cam member. The cam member, when reaching a certain position, actuates a switch which interrupts the current supply'to the motor. In the vicinity of the cam member, there is arranged another switch which is actuated by the inserted drawer when the latter reaches its terminal position. The two switches may be combined in a common switching mechanism.

A lever is fixed on the crankshaft and is in operative relation with a pawl which retains the inserted drawer in its terminal position. There is also connected with the crankshaft the one end of a movable rod system, whose other end terminates in a pin which, at the correct position of a card introduced into the slot of the unit housing, penetrates into the fixing hole thereof and retains the card.

' Inside the unit housing, two downwardly directed pins are secured to lock that portion of the stack of data sheets which is lifted by the tongues, by penetrating into the discontinuities of the data sheets. Furthermore, the housing unit contains therein two fixed stop members against which the upper edges of the data sheets strike. Below the tongues and cable lines, within the housing, a spring is arranged, and has one end engaging an inner side wall of the housing while the other end presses against the back of the drawer. Near the displaceable strips, a contact, actuable by an inserted card, is arranged, and closes a circuit as the terminal position of the card is reached to energize the electric motor.

The invention further provides that, in the vicinity of a card inserted in the slot, a contact strip with several contacts is disposed, and one of these contacts is closed as a card reaches its terminal position, by a mark on the card, for example, a protruding projection of the card, and provides a pulse. From each contact of the contact strip, a line leads to a control box which connects this line, depending on the position of its switch, with a counter, a tape recorder, or both, which respond to a pulse.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, with a capacity of 16 data sheets, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The capacity of the unit can, of course, be varied upwardly or downwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a device embodying the invention as installed in a unit housing with the cover open and the drawer pulled out, looking obliquely from above;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the displaceable strips with the cable lines, each strip being moved by the illustrated card, as viewed obliquely from above;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a strip, an inserted card and the holding pin for the card;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a displaceable tongue as well as the locking device and the stop for the data sheets;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, looking downwardly, of the drawer of the unit, containing the data sheets, as well as of a portion of the back wall of the housing and of the spring which pushes the drawer out of the unit housing, as well as the locking device and the stop for the data sheets;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a card illustrating the possible location of the perforations therein;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view illustrating the various recess possibilities at the upper edge of the data sheets and also illustrating the discontinuities in the data sheets for engagement with a pin of a locking device;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view, partly in section and on a greatly enlarged scale, of a portion of a stack of data sheets, with the superposition of the individual recesses being visible; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic or diagrammatic illustration of the action of a card, provided with a projection, on a switching strip, and illustrating the connection of this strip with a control box having connected thereto a group of counting mechanisms and a tape recorder including a loud speaker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the unit housing 1, with its cover 2, forms a compact carrying case. At the lower right in housing 1, behind a slot 3, there is a holding device for four displaceable strips 4 provided at their front forward ends on their undersides with respective spikes 5. The other ends of strips 4 have eyelets 6 to each of which is fastened one end of a cable line 7 of a respective Bowden cable 8. Cable lines 7 extend through a holding strip 9 and have their other ends fastened to one leg of respective U-shaped tongues 9, and compression coil springs 11 embrace cable lines 7 between holding strip 9 and the respective tongues 10. When cable lines 7 are under tension, tongues move in the direction of arrow 12 and, upon slackening of line 7, tongues 10 move in the direction of arrow 13.

An electric motor 14, driving a transmission, is connected with a cammember 15 which acts on switches 16 or 17 in dependence. on its position. Cam member 15 is further connected with a crankshaft 18 and moves the central portion 19 of the crankshaft up or down a little, depending on the position of the cam member. Tongues 10, through which middle portion 19 of crankshaft 18 extends, participate in this upward and downward movement. Crankshaft 18 further carries a pin 20 cooperable with a pawl 21 which is biased by a spring which has not been shown, and which functions to retain drawer 22 when the latter has been pushed into the unit in the direction of the arrow 23.

The end of crankshaft 18 has connected thereto, in the vicinity of the box for batteries 24 supplying current for motor 14, a rod system 25 at whose end there is a pin 26 arranged between two displaceable strips 4. Two locking devices 27 are fixed within the unit, and are provided with downwardly directed pins. The unit also contains stops 28. Below the mentioned parts there is located a large compression or how spring 29 having one end engaged against the rear inner wall of unit housing 1 and the other end engaged against the rear side of drawer 22, to move the drawer outwardly in the direction of arrow 31 when pawl 21 is released.

Drawer 22 contains a stack 32 of data sheets 33, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 8. All of the data sheets, with the exception of one data sheet 33a, are provided at their inner edges 34 with differently formed recesses 35, these recesses 35 being disposed inside a field 36. The inner edges 34 of data sheets 33 abut stops 28 when drawer 22 is inserted. Each data sheet 33 has two discontinuities 37 into which the pins of locking devices 27 engage when stack 32, or a part thereof, is lifted. The outer edges of data sheets 33 abut the front internal side of drawer 22, and between these outer edges and the broken line 39 (FIG. 5) is the visible area of data sheets 33 when drawer 22 is projected from the unit.

Each selecting card 40 is provided with a fixing hole 41 into which pin 26 can engage when the card 40 is inserted, and each card 40 additionally has an operating hole 42 into which the spike 5 of a displaceable strip 4 can penetrate. On the card 4 shown in FIG. 6, 16 possible positions of operating holes 42 are indicated, but only one operating hole 42a is punched out. Cards 40 are introduced into slot 3 in the direction of arrow 43 of FIG. 3, and their inner edges actuate, after completion of the introduction, a contact 44 which efiects energization of electric motor 14. In further accordance with the invention, cards 40 are provided, at their inner edges, with projections 45 (FIG. 9), in addition to fixing hole 41 and operating hole 42. If, for example, a card 40 has 16 possible locations for operating holes 42 then, and also, 16 projections 45 are possible, each projection extending from a different point on the inner edge of the card. A projection 45 acts on that one of contacts 46 assigned to or aligned with the projection. The contacts 46 are assembled in a contact strip 47, and conductors 48 lead from contact strip 47 to a control box 49 provided with a turntable control knob 50 whose pointer 51 points to two different markings, depending on the position of knob 50. From the control box 49, bundled or cabled lines 52 lead to a group of counters 53. Bundled or cabled lines or conductors 54 also lead from control box 49 to a tape recorder 55 which is connected by conductors 56 with a loud speaker 57.

The device embodying the invention, for retrieving data, operates in the manner which will now be described. Let it be assumed, by way of example, that, by means of the unit, a motor vehicle is to be sold. Naturally, the potential customer has a number of questions about the motor vehicle which he is interested in acquiring, and which questions may relate to details thereof or they may concern the performance, the consumption of fuel, or any other matters. These possible questions, which have been selected and tabulated by the sales management on the basis of empirical values, are printed on the cards 40, each card containing one question, or containing several additional questions if they are related to the first question. In the example illustrated, 16 question areas are possible and, accordingly, there is a stack of 16 cards 40.

The number of cards 40 is matched by the number of data sheets 33 and, to each card 40 representing an inquiry as to a certain part or the like, there belongs the matching data sheet 33 which contains the answer to this question. Naturally, data sheet 33 also may be illustrated.

At the beginning of the sales negotiation, the interested buyer receives the stack of cards 40, from which he selects those whose questions interest him. In the illustrated example, up to 16 cards can be selected.

After the customer has made his selection from the nexus of questions and has selected, for example, 15 cards, the first card 40 of those selected is inserted in slot 3 in the direction of arrow 43 into the device embodying the invention. During this insertion, operating hole 42 of card 40 arrives at a spike 5 of a displaceable strip 4 and spike 5 engages in operating hole 42. As card 40 is moved further inwardly, displaceable strip 4 with its spike 5 is taken along accordingly and, in this process, strip 4 actuates cable line 7 of a respective Bowden cable 8 associated therewith, and cable line 7 moves the associated ton-- gue 10 against the bias of compression spring 1 l in the direction of arrow 12. Depending on the distance of the operating hole 42 of a card 40 from the inner edge of the card, strip 4 is displaced a greater or less degree, and the tongue 10 associated therewith also moves a greater or less distance in the direction of arrow 12 and, in so doing, is displaced more or less beneath stack 32 of data sheets '33. When card 40 is completely inserted, it actuates contact 44 and motor 14 starts to operate. Thereupon, crankshaft 18 is moved through cam member 15' and, during this movement, actuates rod system 25 effecting, after a short time, penetration of pin26 at the end of rod system 25 into the fixing hole 41 of the inserted card 40 to retain this card within the device.

Upon further rotation of crankshaft 18, middle or central portion 19 lifts all tongues 10. With respect to three of these tongues, this remains without effect on stack 32 of data sheets 33. However, one of the tongues 10, mainly the one which, through the operating hole 42 of card 40, has been pulled forward, extends into stack 32, namely into field 36 thereof. This field has four groups of different recesses 35, or a total of 16 different recesses 35. This is best illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

The lower leg of that U-shaped tongue 10 which has penetrated into stack 32 of data sheet 33 now rises under the action of middle portion 19 of crankshaft l8, and passes through all recesses 35 of field 36 until it strikes against a closed portion of field 36. As this particular tongue 10 continues to rise, it lifts the data sheet 33 with the closed field 36 and the data sheet 33 lying thereabove. That is, it lifts a part of stack 32 and, during this lifting process, the discontinuities or apertures 37 in data sheets 33 of the lifted portion of stack 32 also rise and slip onto the pins of locking devices 27. The lifted partial stack of stack 32 is now retained by locking device 27.

After crankshaft 18 has continued its rotation through a small angle, lever 20 contacts pawl 21 and raises this pawl, thus releasing drawer 22 for pushing out of the unit in a forward direction under the action of large compression spring 29. The lower partial stack of stack 32 of data sheets 33 lies in drawer 22, so that this lower partial stack moves out with the drawer and, to the observer, the uppermost or top data sheet of this projected portion of stack 32 becomes visible. It contains writing and possibly also is illustrated, and provides the answer to the question contained on the particular card 40 introduced through slot 3 into the unit. Thus, in accordance with the particular example of the sale of a motor vehicle, if a question about the transmission of the car had been asked, the data sheet 33 visible to the observer will show a picture of the transmission and will contain an explanatory text.

After the observer has taken note of the information, drawer 22 is closed by pushing it back into the unit. This closing of drawer 22 causes the rear part of the drawer to strike against switch 17, with the result that motor 14 is re-energized and crankshaft 18 rotates. By virtue of such rotation of crankshaft 18, lever 20 is lowered together with pawl 21, and pawl 21 again retains the inserted drawer 22 in the interior of the unit. At the same time, however, and by movement of crankshaft l8, rod system 25 has-been moved and has extractedpin 26 out of fixing hole 4l.of the inserted card 40, so that this card is now freed and canbepulled out of slot 3. Under the bias of compression spring 11',- the tongue 10, which had previously been pulled forward by the inserted card 40, returns to its starting position as doesalso the strip 4 associated therewith.

Meanwhile, crankshaft l8, and particularly its central portion 19, has reached its lowest position and has pulled tongues 10 downwardly. At this instant, cam member 15 actuates switch 16 which interrupts the current supply to motor 14, so that the entire unit comes to a standstill. Since the tongue 10 previously pulled forwardly no longer holds part of stack 32, which it has lifted in the direction toward locking devices 27, it also holds the other part of stack 32-contained in drawer 22 and the complete stack 32 is now present again in drawer 22.

The next card 40 can then be inserted into the unit, whereupon theentire process is repeated and the information matching the newly inserted card becomes visible in the pushed-out drawer 22. This procedure can be continued until the capacity of cards 40 and data sheets 33 is exhausted, that is, in the particular example, for a total of 16 times. it will be clear that the position of the function hole 42 in a card 40 determines how far the associated tongue 10 is pulled forwardly and thus which portion of stack 32 is lifted by the thus pulled forwardly tongue. This depends on the depth of the particular recesses 35. The uppermost data sheet 330 has no recesses.

Thehandling of the retrieval device of the invention is very simple, as all operations, with the exception of the insertion of a card 40 into the unit, take place automatically. If another object is to be sold by means of the unit, all that is necessary is to remove the stack 32 of data sheets 33 out of drawer 22 and to replace it by another stack 32 with other data sheets 33. Correspondingly, another stack of cards 40 is associated with the new stack 32.

The data supplied to the interested person by the part of the unit so far described of a purely visual nature, and can be further commented upon by the salesman. However, if such commentary is not to be left up to the salesman, an additional arrangement is provided in accordance with the invention.- Referring to FIG. 9, this additional arrangement includes a contact strip 47 which is mounted in the unit near the inner edge of a card 40 inserted into the unit. In this case, the inserted card 40 must be provided with an additional indentification mark, such as a projection 45. Projection 45 of the inserted card depresses a contact 46 of contact strip 47 and thereby closes a circuit which, through a control box 49 which is not part of the invention, causes a tape recorder 55, also not part of the invention, to be activated. Tape recorder 55 must be designed as a special unit and must contain a relatively wide looped tape with as many tracks as there are contacts 46. Either each track can be scanned by a separate sound head, or a single sound head may be used and may be made displaceable can be so controlled, by any known electro-mechanical means, that it automatically aligns with the proper track. It does not matter which of the known forms of construction of such a tape recorder is selected. What is attained, in any case, is the addition, to the visual information, of information of a phonetic nature, whose length, however, is limited by the length of the tape loop.

If an additional phonetic information is desired, the turnable control knob 50 must be adjusted so that its pointer 51 points to the marking L. The tape recorder supplies the audible infonnation through a known loud speaker. By turning knob '50 to point to mark A," tape recorder 55 can be switched off.

Besides the data supplied to the interested party by the invention device, an additional datum is of interest to the sales management, namely which questions are most frequently asked by the interested party. Sales management must determine this information exactly, and it can scarcely rely on more or less reliable notes or recollections of the salesman. To ob- The pulse thereby produced is directed, in switch position Z of control box 49, to the group of counters 53, where each counter is designed approximately in the manner of a telephone call counter.

In the diagrammatic illustration shown in FIG. 9, a projection 45 related to a small number strikes the correspondingly positioned contact 46, to close a circuit and effect a response of the counter provided with the designation 15. In evaluating the numbers appearing'on counters 53, the sales management later can see that the question presented on the card 40 designated with the number 15" has been asked 2,753 times, as illustrated in FIG. 9. From the frequency of the individual questions, as indicated by counters 53, the sales management can draw certain conclusions which can be utilized not only for the sale but also for the manufacture of the particular article.

A particular advantage of the invention retrieval device is that the interested party can program, so to speak, the sales talk on his own. By introduction of the cards which he selects, he also retrieves for himself the particular information which is provided pictorially and in writing at once and as a direct statement of the respective firm. This constitutes a considerable advantage. The consultant can elucidate the information, but the device has the further advantage that, if this is desired, the information in a phonetic form can also be provided by the tape recorder. It is of advantage that, with the invention device, there is no longer any talking past the interests of the customer. Also, it is advantageous that the interested party is being informed more individually, more precisely and more comprehensively than has been possible hitherto in a consulting talk, and the prospect therefore can always be sure of receiving that information which is best for him personally.

The advantages are not only directed to the interested party, but also the sales management of the company can be sure that its consultants always conduct individually aimed talks. Moreover, sales management obtains, as a secondary result, exact data on the purchase motivation through the counting mechanism, without requiring special consumer questioning and the like.

Another important advantage of the invention retrieval device is that its housing may comprise a small, handy carrying case, in which there is room also for pamphlets, forms and the like, as the device itself is quite flat. Finally, an advantage of the device is that it can be charged with a great variety of sales programs, requiring only the exchange of the stack of data sheets and insertion of another stack, to each of which stacks there belongs a particular set of cards.

The invention is not limited to the particular construction illustrated in the drawings. For example, it is possible to use cord lines instead of the Bowden cables, or to effect the intermittent movement of the tongues electro-mechanically rather than mechanically. The essential point is that always only the correct tongue receives its movement pulse by insertion of the associated card. Instead of the illustrated embodiment involving only four tongues, an embodiment with a larger number of tongues may be used without any change in the principle of the invention. The additional tape recorder may be carried separately, because of its bulk, and connected with the device by a cord. The control box and the counter can be accommodated inside the unit housing. The cover of the housing may remain closed during use of the device, because the slot for introduction of the cards is located in a side wall of the housing and because the drawer, containing the data sheets, is projected from the same side wall.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A data retrieval device, operable to retrieve a datum responsive to insertion of a datum selecting card into a data containing unit, comprising, in combination, a drawer in said unit containing a stack of data sheets each having a respective retrieval characteristic; a number of selecting cards equal to the number of data sheets in the stack, and each having a sheet releasing characteristic at a location respective to a difi'erent one of said data sheets; sheet latching means cooperable with said data sheets; first means operable, responsive to insertion of a card into said unit, to trigger a pulse; second means operable by said pulse to divide the stack into two superposed partial stacks, with a sheet containing the data retrieved constituting the top sheet of the lower partial stack; said second means lifting the upper partial stack into engagement with said latching means, with the lower partial stack remaining in said drawer; and third means operable to push said drawer, with the lower partial stack, out of said unit, to expose the retrieved data; said drawer, upon reinsertion into said unit, recombining the two partial stacks into the original stack; the inserted card triggering the additional operating pulses for said means.

2. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which each individual data sheet of said stack has, at one edge, a recess; the recess at the edge of each individual data sheet being different from the recesses at the edges of all the other data sheets of said stack.

3. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 2, in which each recess has a form which is a multiple of the smallest recess in any data sheet in said stack.

4. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said sheet latching means comprises at least one depending pin; each data sheet being formed with a number of apertures corresponding to the number of said pins and arranged to receive said pins when the upper partial stack is lifted into engagement with said latching means. 7

5. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which each selecting card is formed with first and second apertures, said first aperture constituting a fixing aperture and being positioned at the same location on all cards; said second aperture constituting an operating aperture and having a respective difierent location on each card; said second aperture further constituting the pulse triggering aperture of the associated card. I

6. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 5, in which each card is formed with additional triggering means respective to the individual card.

7. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 6, in which the additional triggering means of each card comprises at least one projection at its inner edge as inserted into the unit.

8. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 6, in which the additional triggering means of each card comprises at least one recess at its inner edge as inserted into the unit.

9. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 6, in which the additional triggering means of each card comprises a discontinuity positioned adjacent its inner edge as inserted into said unit.

10. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said unit comprises a housing having a side wall formed with a feed slot for said cards; plural strips in said housing in alignment with said feed slot and arranged for longitudinal displacement; each strip having, adjacent one end, a projecting spike for cooperation with the sheet releasing characteristic of an inserted card; plural U-shaped hooks displaceably mounted in said housing for movement toward and away from the stack of data sheets; respective flexible lines connecting the other ends of said strips with one leg of respective U-shaped hooks; a holding strip fixed in said housing and having said flexible lines extending therethrough; and respective compression springs embracing each line between the associated U-shaped hook and said holding strip and biasing the associated U- shaped hooks away from the stack of data sheets.

11. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, in which said flexible lines comprise cores of respective Bowden cables.

12, A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, including a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said housing and having a straight central crank portion extending between the legs of said U-shaped tongues; an electric motor havinga transmission; and a cam member operatably connected to said transmission and to said crankshaft.

13. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including a switch controlling energization of said electric motor; said cam, after attaining a predetermined angular position, operating said switch to interrupt energization of said electric motor.

14. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 13, including a second switch controlling energization of said electric motor and arranged in the vicinity of said cam member; said drawer, upon full reinsertion into said unit, operating said second switch.

15. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including a pawl in said housing operable to retain said drawer in its fully inserted position; and a pin secured to said crankshaft and operable to disengage said pawl from said drawer upon rotation of said crankshaft.

16. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including a movable rod system in said housing connected at one end with said crankshaft; the other end of said rod system terminating in a pin which, in the correct position of a card inserted into said slot, engages into a positioning aperture in the card to retain the card in said housing.

17. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, including two fixed stop members positioned in said housing and engageable with the inner edges of the data sheets forming said stack.

18. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 15, including a compression spring positioned in said housing below said tongues and said lines, and having one end engaging the rear side wall of said housing and the other end engaging the rear end of said drawer, to bias said drawer outwardly of said housing upon release of said pawl from said drawer by said pin.

19. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including contact means positioned in said housing adjacent said displaceable strip and controlling energization of said electric motor; said contact means being engageable by a card, inserted through said slot, in the end position of said card to close a motor energizing circuit.

20. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, including a contact strip in said housing in the path of movement of a card inserted through said slot; a plurality of contacts mounted on said contact strip; each card having a respective sheet releasing characteristic engageable with a respective one of said contacts in the end position of the card when inserted through said slot, to provide a pulse.

21. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 20, in which said sheet releasing characteristic comprises a projection extending from the inner end of each card.

22. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 20, includ ing a control box having a control knob; a pulse responsive counter and a tape recorder connected to said control box; respective conductors connecting said contacts on said contact strip with said control box; said contacts being connectable to said counter or to said tape recorder in accordance with the position of said control knob. 

1. A data retrieval device, operable to retrieve a datum responsive to insertion of a datum selecting card into a data containing unit, comprising, in combination, a drawer in said unit containing a stack of data sheets each having a respective retrieval characteristic; a number of selecting cards equal to the number of data sheets in the stack, and each having a sheet releasing characteristic at a location respective to a different one of said data sheets; sheet latching means cooperable with said data sheets; first means operable, responsive to insertion of a card into said unit, to trigger a pulse; second means operable by said pulse to divide the stack into two superposed partial stacks, with a sheet containing the data retrieved constituting the top sheet of the lower partial stack; said second means lifting the upper partial stack into engagement with said latching means, with the lower partial stack remaining in said drawer; and third means operable to push said drawer, with the lower partial stack, out of said unit, to expose the retrieved data; said drawer, upon reinsertion into said unit, recombining the two partial stacks into the original stack; the inserted card triggering the additional operating pulses for said means.
 2. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which each individual data sheet of said stack has, at one edge, a recess; the recess at the edge of each individual data sheet being different from the recesses at the edges of all the other data sheets of said stack.
 3. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 2, in which each recess has a form which is a multiple of the smallest recess in any data sheet in said stack.
 4. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said sheet latching means comprises at least one depending pin; each data sheet being formed with a number of apertures corresponding to the number of said pins and arranged to receive said pins when the upper partial stack is lifted into engagement with said latching means.
 5. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which each selecting card is formed with first and second apertures, said first aperture constituting a fixing aperture and being positioned at the same location on all cards; said second aperture constituting an operating aperture and having a respective different location on each card; said second aperture further constituting the pulse triggering aperture of the associated card.
 6. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 5, in which each card is formed with additional triggering means respective to the individual card.
 7. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 6, in which the additional triggering means of each card comprises at least one projection at its inner edge as inserted into the unit.
 8. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 6, in which the additional triggering means of each card comprises at least one recess at its inner edge as inserted into the unit.
 9. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 6, in which the additional triggering means of each card comprises a discontinuity positioned adjacent its inner edge as inserted into said unit.
 10. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 1, in which said unit comprises a housing having a side wall formed with a feed slot for said cards; plural strips in said housing in alignment with said feed slot and arranged for longitudinal displacement; each strip having, adjacent one end, a projecting spike for cooperation with the sheet releasing characteristic of an inserted card; plural U-shaped hooks displaceably mounted in said housing for movement toward and away from the stack of data sheets; respective flexible lines connecting the other Ends of said strips with one leg of respective U-shaped hooks; a holding strip fixed in said housing and having said flexible lines extending therethrough; and respective compression springs embracing each line between the associated U-shaped hook and said holding strip and biasing the associated U-shaped hooks away from the stack of data sheets.
 11. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, in which said flexible lines comprise cores of respective Bowden cables.
 12. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, including a crankshaft rotatably mounted in said housing and having a straight central crank portion extending between the legs of said U-shaped tongues; an electric motor having a transmission; and a cam member operatably connected to said transmission and to said crankshaft.
 13. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including a switch controlling energization of said electric motor; said cam, after attaining a predetermined angular position, operating said switch to interrupt energization of said electric motor.
 14. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 13, including a second switch controlling energization of said electric motor and arranged in the vicinity of said cam member; said drawer, upon full reinsertion into said unit, operating said second switch.
 15. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including a pawl in said housing operable to retain said drawer in its fully inserted position; and a pin secured to said crankshaft and operable to disengage said pawl from said drawer upon rotation of said crankshaft.
 16. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including a movable rod system in said housing connected at one end with said crankshaft; the other end of said rod system terminating in a pin which, in the correct position of a card inserted into said slot, engages into a positioning aperture in the card to retain the card in said housing.
 17. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, including two fixed stop members positioned in said housing and engageable with the inner edges of the data sheets forming said stack.
 18. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 15, including a compression spring positioned in said housing below said tongues and said lines, and having one end engaging the rear side wall of said housing and the other end engaging the rear end of said drawer, to bias said drawer outwardly of said housing upon release of said pawl from said drawer by said pin.
 19. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 12, including contact means positioned in said housing adjacent said displaceable strip and controlling energization of said electric motor; said contact means being engageable by a card, inserted through said slot, in the end position of said card to close a motor energizing circuit.
 20. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 10, including a contact strip in said housing in the path of movement of a card inserted through said slot; a plurality of contacts mounted on said contact strip; each card having a respective sheet releasing characteristic engageable with a respective one of said contacts in the end position of the card when inserted through said slot, to provide a pulse.
 21. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 20, in which said sheet releasing characteristic comprises a projection extending from the inner end of each card.
 22. A data retrieval device, as claimed in claim 20, including a control box having a control knob; a pulse responsive counter and a tape recorder connected to said control box; respective conductors connecting said contacts on said contact strip with said control box; said contacts being connectable to said counter or to said tape recorder in accordance with the position of said control knob. 